Review: Eels album not so “Wonderful, Glorious”

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The Eels, the Los Feliz band from California, finally dished out the goods after a disappearing act with their new album “Wonderful, Glorious” released this month.

This band began making music in 1995 but really became known to most indie enthusiasts after their song “Saturday Morning” on “The O.C.” soundtrack.

Compared to their previous nine studio albums “Wonderful, Glorious” does not live up to their potential or the title. It’s not terrible, but is not as amazing as their album claims to be. Commonly, the Eels have themes surrounding topics of relationships-gone-bad and God, but this album departed a little bit with plain, yet positive thoughts in the lyrics.

The main single “Peach Blossom” portrays the typical airy and soothing Eels sound, while “On the Ropes” was a more solid and stronger track with a serenading of emotive instruments.

For the psychedelic, wallflower type of listener, this album is ideal, with dreamy jams like “I am Building a Shrine” or “Bombs Away,” but the Eels will probably not succeed in luring new fans, due to the lack of innovation compared to other indie bands.

All in all “Wonderful, Glorious” was under-executed. Optimism is boring with a formerly intense, occasionally melancholy type of group. This would make an okay, it-just-so-happens-to-be-playing-in-the-background album.